Gerald Karver

Won six state titles in cross country and track while at Boyertown High School (1939-41). His best times were 1:59.5 in the 880 and 4:27.6 in the mile. He also anchored Boyertown to the title in the Distance Medley Championship of America at the Penn Relays (1941). He went on to Penn State University, winning the IC4A cross country title as a freshman. Gerry entered the service and, as an officer in the U.S. Air Force won a number of important races including the 1,500-meter run in the Allied Forces Championship in Italy (July 1945) and the 1,500-meter run in a meet between the European and Mediterranean champions (August,1945). In the first meet to be held in Paris after the war, he was invited to the meet by General Eisenhower’s staff and won the 1,000-meter run. After serving in the military, he was a member of the championship distance medley and four-mile relay teams at the Penn Relays (1947 & 1948). He won the IC4A, the National Intercollegiate and the National AAU mile titles (1947), becoming only the second runner ever to win all three titles in the same year. He placed fourth in the 1,500 meters during the U.S. Olympic trials (1948). Gerry was one of the organizers of the Boyertown Lions “Journey for Sight” 10k run (1981). The 3,200 meters event at the Venzke Relays is named in Karver’s honor.

Deceased